In the games

Drake harnesses the strong power of Dragon-type Pokémon that he specializes in. He lives every day to dedicate himself to learn about the Pokémon who saved him. He believes that the Elite Four's challenge is superior to the Battle Frontier. He is an old shipmate and friend of Mr. Briney.

Quotes

"I am the last of the Pokémon League Elite Four, Drake the Dragon master! In their natural state, Pokémon are wild living things. They are free. At times, they hinder us. At times, they help us. For us to battle with Pokémon as partners, do you know what it takes? Do you know what is needed? If you don't, then you will never prevail over me!"

Being defeated

"Superb, it should be said."

After being defeated

"You deserve every credit for coming this far as a Trainer of Pokémon. You do seem to know what is needed. Yes, what a Trainer needs is a virtuous heart. Pokémon touch the good hearts of Trainers and learn good from wrong. They touch the good hearts of Trainers and grow strong. Go! Go onwards! The Champion is waiting!"

"That voice... <player>, is it? You sound well... I understand there is now a facility call the Battle Frontier that tests the skills of Trainers. However, if you wish to have real battles, there is no substitute for the Pokémon League! Don't you agree, <player>?"

"I am the last of the Pokémon League Elite Four, Drake the Dragon master! In their natural state, Pokémon are wild living things. They are free. At times, they hinder us. At times, they help us. For us to battle alongside Pokémon as partners, do you know what it takes? Do you know what is needed?"

"If you don't, you will never prevail over me!"

Being defeated

"Superb, it should be said."

After being defeated

"You deserve every credit for coming this far as a Pokémon Trainer. You do seem to know what is needed. Yes, what a Trainer needs is a true and virtuous heart. It is through their contact with Trainers that Pokémon learn right from wrong. The influence of their Trainers' good hearts helps them grow strong!"

"Go! Go onward! The Champion is waiting!"

Rematch

Before battle

"Oh, I've been waitin' for you! My Pokémon and I are going to show you everything we've got! Well then, you had better get ready to try and stop me!"

Being defeated

"Spectacular!"

After being defeated

"I got a glimpse inside your heart! There's nothing for me to say to you! Go forth, Trainer! Go on to your next challenge with your head held high!"

In the anime

Drake is a ship captain, and has an entire crew under his command. His first-mate is Fitzwilliam. After witnessing Ash and his Torkoal defeating another Trainer's Scizor, Drake meets Ash and his friends at a restaurant and invites them to his ship. Once on board, Max asks Drake to show them his Pokémon, and Drake invites Ash to have a Pokémon battle with him instead. Drake wins the match easily, helping Ash realize that he had been overconfident recently. When Team Rocket tries to steal Pikachu again after the battle, Drake blasts them off with his Salamence.

After Ash takes his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center, Drake also invites the gang to dine on his ship. During the meal, Drake tells Ash that he too once got overconfident and lost many battles because of it.

Pokémon

Shelgon is the first Pokémon Drake used to battle Ash. Ash thought Pikachu's speed and powerful attacks would beat the slow Endurance Pokémon, but he did not take into account Shelgon's high defense. Drake's strategy was to calculate the damage from Ash's attack and wait until Pikachu was close enough (trying to use Iron Tail to finish off Shelgon) before he attacked with a powerful Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw combo, winning the round.

For the second round, Drake used Altaria. Despite the type disadvantage, Ash chose Grovyle, thinking it would be able to use the ship's masts like trees. Still, Altaria won the round, winning the match for Drake.